STAGE/FILM

Alnwick Playhouse,
Bondgate Without,
Alnwick
01665 510785

Thursday, April 2 and Sunday, April 5: Slumdog Millionaire (15; 120min).
Drama starring Dev Patel, Amil Kapoor, Irrfan Khan, Freida Pinto and Madhur Mittal. Jamal Malik has been raised by older brother Salim in the slums of Mumbai. Falling into the clutches of child slave traders and other nefarious characters, the boys use their guile to survive on the streets, encountering a pretty orphan girl called Latika who will change their lives forever. 7.30pm, tickets £5, £4.50 conc.

Friday, April 3: Empirical. The multi-award-winning jazz quintet expertly incorporate elements of classical, African and Cuban musical forms into original, sophisticated, fresh-sounding jazz. 7.30pm, tickets £14, £13 conc.

Saturday, April 4: Putting on the Style: The Ultimate Skiffle Tour. Paul Leegan & The Legends transport you back to the 1950s to celebrate the music that inspired a generation of music makers around the world with its unique mix of folk, jazz, blues and country. 7.30pm, tickets £14, £13 conc.

Monday, April 6: Beverly Hills Chihuahua (U; 91min). Family film starring Drew Barrymore, Andy Garcia, George Lopez and Piper Perabo. Chloe the Chihuahua is the beloved, four-legged companion of Vivian Ashe, who lavishes all of her love and her considerable bank balance on the pampered pooch. 2pm, tickets £5, £4.50.

Monday, April 6: Vicky Cristina Barcelona (12a; 96min). Comedy starring Scarlett Johansson, Rebecca Hall, Javier Bardem, Penelope Cru, and Patricia Clarkson. Flighty and single Cristina and soon-to-be-married Vicky head to Barcelona for the summer where they stay with relatives in a gorgeous villa. 7.30pm, tickets £5, £4.50.

Tuesday, April 7: My Darling Clemmie. Rohan McCulloch performs Hugh Whitmore's one-woman play telling the remarkable, moving and highly entertaining story of Clementine Hozier, the woman who married Winston Churchill. 7.30pm, tickets £11, £10 conc.

Wednesday, April 8: The Pink Panther 2 (PG; 92min). Family film starring
Steve Martin and John Cleese. Long-suffering Chief inspector Dreyfus has consigned bumbling Inspector Clouseau to traffic duty. Then out of the blue, Clouseau is seconded to a close-knit group of top-notch detectives from around the world who have been assigned with tracking down an elusive thief known only as The Tornado. 2pm, tickets £5, £4.50 conc.

Wednesday, April 8: Valkyrie (12a; 120min). Drama starring Tom Cruise and Eddie Izzard. Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg loses an eye and his hand in the name of the Third Reich during manoeuvres in Tunisia, despite his fierce opposition to Hitler. 7.30pm, tickets £5, £4.50 conc.

Thursday, April 9: Feast of Fiddles. Peter Knight (Steeleye Span), Chris Leslie (Fairport Convention), Ian Cutler (Bully Wee), Tom Leary (Tanna) and Brian McNeill (ex-Battlefield Band) are joined by a great band for a concert of songs, sweet airs, stirring ensembles and wild medleys. 7.30pm, tickets £16.50, £15.50 conc.

The Maltings, Berwick 01289 330999

Thursday, April 2 until Saturday, April 9: Sweet Charity. Berwick Operatic Society perform showstopping numbers set in the 1960s. The story is based around Charity Hope Valentine a dance hall hostess at New York's Fandango nightclub. 2pm (Saturday matinee) and 7.30pm, tickets £8, £7 conc.

Sunday, April 5: Inkheart (PG; 106min. A young girl discovers her father has an amazing talent to bring characters out of their books and must try to stop a villain from destroying them all. 2pm, tickets £4.50.

Tuesday, April 7: Confessions of a Shopaholic (PG). A college grad lands a job as a financial journalist in New York City where she nurtures her shopping addiction and falls for a wealthy entrepreneur. 11am and 7.30pm, tickets £4.50.

Wednesday, April 8: Withnail and I (15;107min). Two 'resting' actors, Withnail and Marwood, decide to leave their squalid Camden flat for an idyllic holiday in the countryside, courtesy of Withnail's Uncle Monty's cottage. But when they get there, it rains non-stop, there's no food and their basic survival skills turn out to be somewhat limited. 7.30pm, tickets £5.

LIVE MUSIC

Tonight: Rothbury Accordion and Fiddle Club. Live music from the Lindsay Weir duo. At Queen's Head Hotel, Rothbury. 7.30pm. Members £3, non-members £4. Contact 01668 281307.

Tomorrow: Seahouses Village Voices On Tour. An evening of song by Seahouses Village Voices Choir. At The Blue Bell Hotel, Belford. 7pm. Tickets £3, from The Blue Bell Hotel or Bell View Resource Centre or if any are unsold on the door at the event. In aid of Bell View. Contact 01668 219220.

Saturday, April 4: Acoustic Magic. Acoustic session. At The White Swan, Warenford. 8pm. £12.

Saturday, April 4: Musician of the Year. Tom McConville with David Newey. At Etal Village Hall. 8pm. Tickets £8 in advance or £10 on the door. Doors open 7.30pm, music 8pm. Contact Helen or Steve for tickets and further information, 01890 820566, or e-mail hmoffitsvq@aol.com

Sunday, April 5: Choral masterpiece for Palm Sunday. The Rock Festival Choir, led by Peter Brown, performs Fauré's Requiem. At St Paul's Church, Alnwick. 7.30pm. Tickets £7 and £6 at the door.

Sunday, April 5: Performance of Haydn's musical depiction of the Crucifixion The Seven Last Words of Christ on Palm Sunday. At St Maurice's Church, Eglingham. 7.30pm. Free, a retiring collection will be taken.

Monday, April 6: Folk Music Session. Live music at The Blue Bell, Belford. From 8pm. Free. Contact Jack or Pam Daws on 01665 722835.

EVENTS

Today: Easter Entertaining. Helen Porter demonstrates inspiring and easily-made Easter recipes for entertaining and family meals at Kirkley Hall. 10am-12.30pm. £15, including a light lunch. Contact 01670 841235.

Today: Little Nippers. Drop-in for pregnant and new mums. Refreshments and toys for tots. At Seahouses Fire Station. 10.30am-noon. Free. Contact Sarah on 01665 721848.

Today: Easter Flowers. Tricia McGraddie demonstrates how to create table decorations, arrangements and hair and wrist corsages at Kirkley Hall. 12.30pm to 3pm. £15, including a light lunch. Contact 01670 841235.

Saturday, April 4: Coffee Morning. St Paul's coffee morning with raffle, cake stalls, craft and gift stall and tombola plus music table. In Northumberland Hall, Alnwick. 9.30am-noon. Admission £1, includes coffee and biscuits.

Saturday, April 4: Alnwick Market. Alnwick Market Place. 9am-4pm.

Saturday, April 4: Coffee Morning. Coffee morning for HospiceCare North Northumberland. With refreshments, tombola, raffle, Anne's Bling Stall and more. Donations for tombola and cake stall would be welcome. 9am–noon. In the Town Hall, Alnwick.

Saturday, April 4: Wine and Sign. Book signing to mark Canon David Adam's new work Lindisfarne. 1pm-3pm. And preview, with wine and nibbles, of the first summer gallery exhibition in the Courtyard Gallery showing work by Berwick artist Katie Bishop and by Jenny Calver of Auchencrow. At Belford Craft Gallery, Market Place, Belford. Contact 01668 213888.

Saturday, April 4: Alnwick and District Dance Club. With Margaret Elliott. Bring your own supper. Tea provided. In Northumberland Hall, Alnwick. Non-members £3.50. 8pm-11.30pm. More information contact Edith on 01670 790719.

Saturday, April 4: Paranormal Investigation. Join Ghostseekers for experiments, mediumship and transfiguration. At The Schooner Hotel, Alnmouth. 9pm-3am. Tickets £30. Contact 01324 882883 or visit www.ghostseekers.moonfruit.com

Saturday, April 4: Spring Plant Sale. Hanging baskets, bedding plants, pots and tubs for sale, bring your own for a refill. Tea, coffee and home-made biscuits. In The Pottergate Centre, Howling Lane, Alnwick. 10am-2pm. Contact 01665 602181.

Sunday, April 5: Acoustic Magic Charity.12 till 12 charity day, playing music from noon until midnight, to raise money for Grace House North East Children's Hospice Appeal. Free. Starts noon. At The Blue Bell, Amble.

Thursday, April 9: Comedy Night. Comedians John Smith and Mary Magdelene at Blackmore's of Alnwick. 7.45pm, tickets £10.

EXHIBITIONS

Alnwick Playhouse, Bondgate Without, Alnwick, 01665 510785. Members' Spring Exhibition, Bondgate Gallery. Opportunity for members of Alnwick District Arts Association to exhibit their latest works. New members welcome, membership forms available from the box office. Until Saturday, April 25. 10am-4pm. Free admission.

Belford Craft Gallery. 01668 213 888. New exhibition, with work from Berwick artist Katie Bishop, alongside Jenny Calver of Auchencrow. Starts Saturday, April 4. Main and Courtyard Gallery Tuesday to Friday 10am-12.30pm and 2pm-5pm. Saturday all day. Sunday afternoons from 1pm.

Breeze Gallery, 29 High Street, Wooler, 01668 283333. Open 9.30am-5pm, Monday to Saturday. Visit www.breezewooler.com

Coquetdale Arts Centre, Court Buildings, Front Street, Rothbury, 01669 621557. The centre re-opens on Saturday, April 4. Display of paintings, crafts and prints by members in the main gallery and also a stairwell show of work by Tony Montague, Ken Spencer, Joe Hush and Barbara Segal. In a separate exhibition, David and Jacqueline Howe will be showing their work for a month. Centre also runs beginners and more advanced classes on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 10.30am-4pm and Sunday 1pm-4pm. Visit www.coquetdale.org.uk

Crown Studio Gallery, Rothbury. 01669 622890. New paintings of Coquetdale by resident professional artist Lynda Taylor. Open 9am-5pm, except Wednesdays.

The Frame-House & Schoolroom Gallery, Alnmouth, Gallery & Picture Framing, 01665 830600. New exhibition. Paintings by Clifford William Blakey. Starts Saturday, April 4. Open Wednesday to Sunday.

The Gate Gallery, 12 Bondgate Within, Alnwick, 01665 602165. Original paintings and prints by local artists. 9am-5pm, Monday to Saturday.

WALKS

Saturday, April 4: Guided Walk. A six-mile Shepherds Walk exploring Rothbury railway line. Starts at Rothbury TIC at 10.30am. £9. Contact 01830 540453 or visit www.shepherdswalks.co.uk

Alnwick Health Walks (Long). Every Wednesday at 10am from Alnwick Tourist Information Centre, Market Place. Contact Jon Monks on 01665 605030.

Alnwick Health Walks (Intermediate). First and third Wednesday at 10am from Alnwick TIC. One-hour walk. Contact Jon Monks on 01665 605030.

Alnwick Health Walks (Starter). Every Wednesday at 10am from Alnwick TIC. Maximum 30 minutes. Contact Jon Monks on 01665 605030.

Amble Health Walks. Every Tuesday at 1.30pm from Amble Tourist Information Centre. Starter and intermediate. Contact Jon Monks on 01665 605030.

Belford Health Walks. Long walk Monday, 3pm. Meet at Market Cross. Shorter walk Monday, 1.30pm. Meet at Bell View Resource Centre. Contact Stephanie Glas-Thompson on 07515 288070.

Berwick Health Walks. Beginner and Intermediate, both Wednesday. Meet at the Old Bridge, at the Berwick end. 1pm. Contact Stephanie Glas-Thompson on 07515 288070.

Hadston Health Walks (Starter). Every Wednesday at 1pm from Hadston House. Contact Jon Monks on 01665 605030.

Rothbury Health Walks (Starter). Every Friday at 10.30am from Rothbury TIC. Intermediate/long walks every Friday at 10.30am. Contact Jon Monks on 01665 605030.

Seahouses Health Walks. Every Monday at 2pm. Meet at the Resource Centre. Contact Stephanie Glas-Thompson on 07515 288070.

Wooler Health Walks (Intermediate). Every Thursday at 1.30pm. Meet at the Cheviot Centre. Contact Stephanie Glas-Thompson on 07515 288070.

ATTRACTIONS

Alnwick Castle. 01665 510777. Open daily, 11am-5pm (last admission 4.30pm). Grounds open 10am-6pm. Adult, £11.95, conc £9.95, child £4.95 (5-15 years), child under 4 years, free, family, £29.95 (2 adults and up to 4 children).

Bamburgh Castle. 01668 214060. Open 10am-5pm daily. Last entry 4pm. Adult £7.50, child £3.50, senior £6.50.

Bailiffgate Museum, 14 Bailiffgate, Alnwick. 01665 605847. Open every day except Monday, 10am-4pm. Adult £2.90, senior £2.50, child/student/unemployed £2.10, under 5s free.

Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens. 01661 881636. open daily, 10am-5pm. Adult £6.50, conc £5.20, child £3.30, family ticket £16.30, English Heritage members free.

Cragside House, Gardens and Estate. Gardens and estate open every day except Monday. 10.30am-7pm (last admission 5pm and close at dusk if earlier than 7pm). House open Tuesday to Friday 1pm-5pm and Saturday and Sunday, 11am-5pm. From April 4 open every day 11am-5pm. House, gardens and estate: Adult £13.20, child (age 5-17), £6.60, family £33. Gardens and estate: Adult: £8.50, child (age 5-17) £3.50, family £20.50.

Dunstanburgh Castle. 01665 576231. Open daily 10am-5pm. Adult £3.40, conc £2.70, child £1.80.

Edlingham Castle. Open during daylight hours. Free.

Heatherslaw Cornmill, Gift Shop and Visitor Centre. 01890 820488. Open daily 10am-5pm. Adult £3.50, conc £2.25, U5s free, family £9.

Heatherslaw Light Railway. 01890 820244. Hourly trains from 11am. Adult £6, senior £5, over 5s £4, under 5s £1.

House of Hardy Museum, Alnwick. 01665 510027. Monday to Friday 9am-5pm, Saturday 10am-5pm. Free entry.

Howick Hall Gardens and Arboretum. 01665 577285. Open daily. Noon-6pm (last entry 5pm). Earl Grey Tea House is also open. Adult £5, over 60s £4, children free.

Hulne Park. Ratten Row, Alnwick. Open 11am-dusk.

Lady Waterford Hall, Ford. 01890 820503. Open daily, 11am–5pm. Adult £2, conc £1.50, family £6, under 5s free.

Lindisfarne Castle. 01289 389244. 01289 389244. Open daily except Monday. Today until Sunday, noon-5pm. Tuesday to Thursday 10am-3pm.

Lindisfarne Heritage Centre. 01289 389004. Adult £3, child five-15 £1, group of 10-20 gets 10 per cent discount, over 20 gets 15 per cent discount.

Lindisfarne Priory. 01289 389200. Open daily from 9.30am-5pm. Adult £4.20, child £2.10, conc £3.60.

Longframlington Gardens, Swarland Road, Longframlington. 01665 570382. 12-acre garden and arboretum with walks, plant collection, nature trail and autumn colour. Gardens, nursery and coffee shop. Open daily 9am-5pm until October 31. Garden and arboretum £4.25.

Preston Tower. 01665 589227. Border Pele Tower. Open daily 10am-6pm (or dusk if earlier). Adult £2, child 50p, conc and groups £1.50.

RNLI Grace Darling Museum, Radcliffe Road, Bamburgh, 01668 214910. Open Tuesday to Sunday. 10am-4pm. Last entry 3.30pm. Adult £2.50, child/conc £1.50.

Wallington. 01670 773600. House open. Walled garden open daily 10am–4pm. For shop opening times contact the Estate. Garden and grounds: Adult £6.40, child £3.20, family (2+3) £16.

Warkworth Castle. 01665 711423. Open daily, 10am-5pm. Adult £3.90, child £2, conc £3.10, family £9.80, English Heritage members free.